Battery Company Cited For Emissions Of Lead

May 10, 1986|by SCOTT J. HIGHAM, The Morning Call

An Allentown battery company was cited this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating federal lead emissions standards, emissions that could pose "serious health and environmental threats" to the those living around the plant, according to the agency.

The Exide Corp. at 2001 Lehigh St. was cited by the EPA for violating federal lead emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, the agency said.

"They (Exide) were not that far off the standards," said Roa Kona, regional air pollution control engineer for the state Department of Environmental Resources. DER first documented that the levels of lead coming from the battery factory were exceeding federally set limits.

Kona said Exide has been fined for failing to comply with air quality standards - money which goes to the state's Clean Air Fund - but he would not reveal the amount.

As part of the plant's operating permit, air quality tests are periodically conducted by the DER. Kona said Exide failed those tests six to eight months ago. The company requested a grace period to bring the plant back into compliance, a request the DER granted, Kona said, but when the DER returned to theplant, Exide failed again.

A spokesman for the company could not be reached late yesterday afternoon.

Exide's emissions problems center on a lead oxide paste mixer, which was installed in 1983. The EPA says the mixer failed to meet standards for lead- acid battery manufacturers. Those standards are established under the federal Clean Air Act.

Based on the tests performed by Kona's department, the EPA cited Exide with violating the act.

"Based on test information obtained from the Pennsylvania DER, EPA believes that the Exide lead oxide paste mixer has been in almost continuous violation of the standard since it began operation," an EPA press release said. "Exide stopped operation of the new unit pending resolution of the violations. DER and Exide are now negotiating an agreement, which is expected to resolve the violation and establish conditions for restart of the unit."

The EPA added that lead "presents serious health and environmental threats" and is particularly harmful to fetuses and young children, who "risk brain damage and retardation if exposed to excessive amounts" of the substance.

"Lead can irreversibly damage the brain and kidneys and impair the circulatory and nervous systems," the EPA said. "When inhaled, approximately 20 to 50 percent (of the lead) is retained in the body."